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STRADDLE LIFT

SIDE - 6 PERSON

The Straddle Lift - Side is the preferred technique for placing a patient onto a Long Spine Board (LSB)¹ and can used with the patient found in either the supine, prone or lateral positions.  It is especially useful for patients with injuries preventing a log roll or where the Scoop Stretcher cannot be applied.  The Straddle Lift - Side can also be used very effectively on rough ground or uneven surfaces that would again prevent the application of the Scoop Stretcher or the use of a log roll.  From an OH&S point of view, the Straddle Lift appears to offer a very safe lifting technique when performed correctly.¹

 Points To Remember:

1. When lifting, Officers elbow should rest on their legs to remove the strain from the Officers’ back.

2. If applying the LSB, the patient needs to be lifted only 2 - 5 cm off the ground.

3. Padding using blankets is recommended for LSB comfort and to reduce pressure sores.^2-5    Blankets should be placed on the LSB before insertion.

4. If using a Scoop or a thick LSB, the patient will need to be lifted slightly higher for the patient to clear the frame.

 In this procedure, the Officer’s limb closest to the patient’s head will be referred to as the Officer’s upper limb, and the Officer’s limb closest to the patient’s feet will be referred to as the Officer’s lower limb.

 

Place the LSB above the patient’s head and in-line with the patient’s body.  Alternatively, the LSB can be slid under from the patient’s foot end if access above the patient’s head is not possible.  Officer 1 positions at the patient’s head and squats down on their knees with one leg on either side of the LSB so that the LSB can be slid through Officer 1’s legs.    Manual In-Line Stabilisation of the patient’s head is performed by Officer 1 with elbows resting on their legs for stability.  A Cervical Collar is also applied.  The Manual In-Line Stabilisation is maintained until full spine   immobilisation is achieved¹ as a Cervical Collar will at best provide only 50% immobilisation^.

Officers 2 & 3 kneel on either side of the patient’s torso.    Officers 2 & 3 pull the patient’s clothes at the shoulders firmly to the sides with their lower hands to allow their upper hand to easily slide under patients shoulders. DO NOT lift patient’s shoulder upward during this procedure. Officer 2 & 3’s upper elbow should rest on their upper thigh to avoid strain on the Officer’s back during the lift.  Officer’s 2 & 3’s lower hand should be placed under the patient’s lumbar spine.

Officer’s 4 & 5 kneel on either side of the patient’s mid thigh. Officers 3 & 4 pull the patient’s clothes at the patient’s bottom firmly sideways with lower hand to allow their upper hand to slide easily under patient’s bottom. DO NOT lift   patients bottom upward. Officer’s 4 & 5’s upper elbow should rest on their upper thigh to avoid strain on their back during the lift.

Officer 6 is positioned above the patient’s head to slide the LSB into place.  Before inserting the LSB, Officer 6 should place a blanket onto the LSB for improved comfort^2-5 (taped at the foot end to ensure the blanket stays in place during LSBs insertion under the patient).  A hand/wrist airsplint should be placed on top of the blanket where the patient’s lumbar spine will be positioned.

With Officer 1 at the patient’s head in-charge, Officers 1 to 5 lift the patient by slightly flexing their arms upwards, lifting the patient only enough for Officer 6 to slide the LSB under the patient.

Step 3

The patient is then immobilised to the LSB for transport.⁶

Bibliography

 1.         Gianluca Del Rossi
 Journal Of Atheletic Training   September  2003      38 (3):  204 - 208             
 A Comparison Of Spine Board Transfer Techniques And The Effects Of Training On Performance

 2.          Walton R, DeSalvo JF, Ernst AA, Shahane A.
  Acad Emerg Med 1995 Aug;2(8):725-
  Padded vs unpadded spine board for cervical spine immobilization.

3.           Hauswald M, Hsu M, Stockoff C.
  Prehosp Emerg Care 2000 Jul-Sep;4(3):250-2
  Maximizing comfort and minimizing ischemia: a comparison of four methods of spinal immobilization.

4.           Cordell WH, Hollingsworth JC, Olinger ML, Stroman SJ, Nelson DR.
  Ann Emerg Med 1995 Jul;26(1):31-6
  Pain and tissue-interface pressures during spine-board immobilization. 

5.  Hann
  www.neann.com
  Does proper padding reduce pain on Long Spine Boards 

6.           Victorian Ministerial Task Force on Trauma
  Review Of Trauma And Emergency Services     Report 1999

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